Washcloth provided with pockets for a hand of the user and a cake of soap



Feb. 9, 1954 G. T. COLGAN WASHCLOTH PROVIDED WITH POCKETS FOR A HAND OF THE USER AND A CAKE OF SOAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 14, 1949 3 nventor attorneys Feb. 9, 1954 CQLGAN 2,668,309

WASHCLQTH PROVIDED WITH POCKET-S FOR A HAND OF THE USER AND A CAKE 0F SOAP Filed Sept. 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZSnventor p 31; M attornegs Patented Feb. 9, 1954 WASHCLOTH PROVIDED WITH POCKETS FOR A HAND OF THE USER AND A OF SOAP George T. Colgan, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application September 14, 1949, Serial No. 115,617

2 Claims. (01. is -izz) This invention relates to wash cloths and has for an object to provide an improved form of wash cloth which has pockets for a hand of the user and a cake of soap. It is also an object to provide an improved means for fastening it to the wrist of the user while in use to prevent dropping of the cloth or the soap and therefore accidents by the user stepping or slipping on the soap, and the cloth is always available for immediate use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated inv the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. .It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In these drawings: u .7

Fig. 1 is a top view of the cloth showing it in the position of use and with a portion of the top wall broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a partial side view and partial section looking toward the bottom of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of the under side of the cloth while in use;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the cloth looking from the right of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and

Fig. 5 is a view showing one adaptability of this cloth.

In the use of the ordinary wash cloth there is no way of fastening it to the hand and it is apt to be dropped, necessitating hunting for the cloth, or if used in the bath it is apt to be stepped on, and the same is true of the cake of soap which is being used in the bath with the cloth. The soap is even more easily dropped than the cloth, producing a dangerous situation as it may be stepped on by the user, and as the soap is wet and slippery it may cause a serious accident. Besides, there would be the inconvenience of the user being required to hunt for the soap while taking a bath.

These objections are effectively overcome by the present washcloth 9 which comprises three separate cloths or walls H), II and I2, the wall l0 being a front wall, l2 a rear wall and II an intermediate wall. These walls are of the usual fabric or wash cloth material. The front wall I0 is somewhat longer than the rear wall l2 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and these walls form with the intermediate wall H two pockets l3 and 14 one on each side of this intermediate wall. The frontipocket I3 is a soap pocket which is open through the right hand end of'the cloth and isshown with a cake of soap It: in it. The rear pocket It is'the hand pocket and a persons hand [Bis shown in it in Figs 1, 2 and 3. The,

three walls are connected at the opposite side edges l1 and one end l8, either as one piece or by stitching them together, while they are not connected at the opposite end, but both pockets are open at thislatter end as shown in Fig. 4.- Adjacent the open ends of the pockets the intermediate wall II is provided with an opening 19 bound with an elastic 20, this elastic-bound cpening being large enough for insertion of the hand,

' but after the hand is inserted contracting sufiiciently to grip the wrist, as shown in the drawing. The open end edges of the upper and intermediate wall may be bound by any suitable means, as for example by folding them over as indicatedat 2| and stitching as indicated at 22. The edge at the open end of pocket l4 may also be bound as for example by folding over the edge of wall I2 as shown at 23 and stitching at 24.

,-In use of this cloth the user places a hand through the elastic-bound opening [9 from the right as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, passing it through this opening from the top or front of the intermediate wall ll into the rear or hand pocket M with the palm of the hand facing the front or soap pocket [3. The entire hand is passed through this elastic-bound opening so that the elastic band or opening is about the wrist. The cake of soap [5 may then be placed in the pocket [3 through the open or right hand end of this pocket and it can be held in the palm of the hand as indicated while using the cloth for scrubbing or rinsing operations. It will be noted that both the soap and hand pockets are closed on all sides except the open end and that therefore there is very little, if any, danger of dropping the soap while the cloth is being used, but that it is always in position for use and in a very advantageous position.

There are a number of distinct advantages of this wash cloth. For example, it is accidentproof because the soap can be readily kept of]? the floor and the bottom of the tub or shower booth so there is no danger of the user stepping or slipping on it with a resulting serious accident. It is a soap saver, and also a time saver, as one does not have to keep hunting for the soap or cloth. It can be used on either hand and may be made in various sizes for children or adults. It is always secured to the hand by the elastic-bound opening about the wrist and so there is no danger of its dropping to the floor. It

2,668,809 r A w can be used with hot or cold water in a shower or other baths, gymnasiums and hospitals. It can be used with any size or shape soap cakes, and after the user has performed the soaping operation the soap can be removed from the pocket and the cloth rinsed to free it of soap and then used plain as a rinsing cloth. This operation of rinsing the cloth to, remove the soap can be performed whilethe. cloth: is still secured by the elastic band about the wrist, as indicated in Fig. 5. That is, the hand Hi can be removed from the pocket l4 through the open end thereof while the elastic; bandiis still about the wrist and then both used: torinse opening can be used as a means ofhanghi p' theclothon a hook or nail-when not in use.

Having thus set forth the-nature of my invention, I claim:

1. A washcloth comprising-ar frontwall, a-rear wall and an intermediate wall between them, said walls being of flexible absorbent fabric ma terial connected, at' their opposite side-edges and one end and disconnected attheether and forming a front soap pocketanda rear hand pocket on each of the opposite sides of the intermediate wall each open: at said-latter end; the front and intermediate walls" being of" substantially the same length', the rear wall 'being shorterthan the-other walls, the intermediate wall' being pro vided with an openingtherethrough-for inser tion of a hand oi tlie-user from theirontpocket into the rear pocket-and the'edges-of said open-- ing being bound by-anelastlc to grip wrist of the hand so inserted, and the-opening in the 4.. intermediate wall being located substantially outwardly of the free end of the rear wall and inwardly of the free ends of the front and intermediate walls to permit removal of the hand from the rear pocket while the wrist is gripped by the elastic.

2. A wash cloth of the character described comprising three walls of flexible absorbent fabric material comprising two outer walls forming front and rear walls and an intermediate wall all lying side by side with the intermediate wall located between the front and rear walls, said walls being. connected together at their opposite side; edges and one end only forming a front soap pocket and a rear hand pocket each open at the other end and separated by the intermediate wall, said intermediate Wall being providedadjacentrthe open ends of the pockets with an opening therethrough spaced inwardly from the free "ends of this wall and the front wall for insertion of a hand of the user therethrough from the front pocket onone side'of this wall into the rear pocket on the opposite side there-- of; andthe-edgesof said opening being-bound by an elastic to grip thewrist of the hand-so inserted.

GEORGE-=1. COLGAN.

References Cited. in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,379,976 Gutmann May 31, 1921 1,469,929 Underwood et' al. Sept; 25, 1923' 1,597,101 Morganstern Sept. 9, 1924 2;0'I5;413 Walkerv c Mar. 39, 1937 2,205,957. Kinkis June 25, 1940 265,329. Wachs Dec. 9, 1941 2,363,697 Schirmer NOV. 28, 1944 2,569,067 Livshin Sept; .25, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS,

Number Country Date 292,339 Great Britain June '21, 1928, 

